NanotechnologyNanotechnology

Todd HutnerTodd Hutner

The Nano ScaleThe Nano Scale

1 nanometer is 101 nanometer is 10-9 -9 meters.meters.

Ten Hydrogen atoms fit into one Ten Hydrogen atoms fit into one nanometer.nanometer.

Thus, nanotechnology is technology that Thus, nanotechnology is technology that takes place on the nanoscale.takes place on the nanoscale.

The Arrangement of AtomsThe Arrangement of Atoms

Imagine trying to put together a bunch of Imagine trying to put together a bunch of legos while wearing boxing gloves. legos while wearing boxing gloves.

You could push them around, and even You could push them around, and even pile them up.pile them up.

But, could you stick them together?But, could you stick them together?

The Arrangement of Atoms The Arrangement of Atoms

This is analogous to how we manufacture This is analogous to how we manufacture things today.things today.But, we have begun to assemble things on But, we have begun to assemble things on the nanoscale. the nanoscale. In this process, we build tiny machines, In this process, we build tiny machines, atoms at a time. atoms at a time. This precise construction allows us to This precise construction allows us to increase the efficiency of those products increase the efficiency of those products that we produce. that we produce.

Self ReplicationSelf Replication

Another advantage from nanotechnology Another advantage from nanotechnology is self replication.is self replication.

This is where one nanomachine will This is where one nanomachine will continue to produce new nanomachines continue to produce new nanomachines with no additional input. This lowers the with no additional input. This lowers the costs of manufacturing.costs of manufacturing.

This also increases the precision of each This also increases the precision of each item manufactured. item manufactured.

Nano and the Quantum WorldNano and the Quantum World

At such small scales, many theorists At such small scales, many theorists believe that quantum effects take over. believe that quantum effects take over. Using something called the Born-Using something called the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, Oppenheimer approximation, nanotechnology can be used under the nanotechnology can be used under the assumptions of classical physics. assumptions of classical physics. This assumption only holds true when all This assumption only holds true when all electrons are in ground state, and we are electrons are in ground state, and we are dealing with atoms in motion. dealing with atoms in motion.

So What?So What?

There are several different areas to which There are several different areas to which scientists hope to apply nanotechnology.scientists hope to apply nanotechnology.

There are also several applications of There are also several applications of nanotechnology in use today.nanotechnology in use today.

NanomedicineNanomedicine

NanocomputersNanocomputers

NanomachinesNanomachines

Today’s NanotechnologyToday’s Nanotechnology

Sun Tan Lotions similar to zinc-oxide use Sun Tan Lotions similar to zinc-oxide use nanotechnology to create a lotion that nanotechnology to create a lotion that goes on smooth.goes on smooth.

A North Carolina company produces A North Carolina company produces nanofabrics for companies such as and nanofabrics for companies such as and Claiborne, that are stain resistant. Claiborne, that are stain resistant.

NanitesNanites

A nanite is a tiny nanomachine specifically A nanite is a tiny nanomachine specifically designed for bioloigical uses. designed for bioloigical uses. Nanomachines will be able to enter the Nanomachines will be able to enter the blood stream, cleaning blocked arteries, or blood stream, cleaning blocked arteries, or repairing damaged DNA.repairing damaged DNA.Nanites will also be able to increase the Nanites will also be able to increase the thinking capacity of the human brain, thinking capacity of the human brain, dwarfing the computing power of today’s dwarfing the computing power of today’s most powerful computers. most powerful computers.

NanitesNanites

Nanites will also be able to move about Nanites will also be able to move about the body, constantly taking readings of all the body, constantly taking readings of all types of important systems, and bodily types of important systems, and bodily functions.functions.

If problems arise, the nanites can “contact” If problems arise, the nanites can “contact” the host, and if need, perform surgery from the host, and if need, perform surgery from within the body. within the body.

NanocomputersNanocomputers

Today’s most powerful computer chips are made from Today’s most powerful computer chips are made from silicon. silicon. Making a computer out of diamond would make much Making a computer out of diamond would make much more sense. more sense. Diamond has a higher band gap, so device will work at Diamond has a higher band gap, so device will work at higher temperatures.higher temperatures.It has a higher thermal conductivity, so it can be cooled It has a higher thermal conductivity, so it can be cooled faster.faster.It has a greater breakdown field, so devices can be It has a greater breakdown field, so devices can be smaller.smaller.It has higher electron mobility, which allows for a faster It has higher electron mobility, which allows for a faster computing time.computing time.

NanocomputersNanocomputers

Yet, we see no computers made of Diamond. Yet, we see no computers made of Diamond.

This is because we can manufacture pure silicon This is because we can manufacture pure silicon crystals much more readily then Diamond. crystals much more readily then Diamond.

We can also etch the silicon surface adding We can also etch the silicon surface adding dopants with much more precision, allowing for dopants with much more precision, allowing for semiconductors. semiconductors.

Diamond, as of now, is much more difficult to Diamond, as of now, is much more difficult to work with. work with.

NanocomputersNanocomputers

With nanotechnology, our problems are solved. With nanotechnology, our problems are solved.

We can arrange the atoms in a precise manner, We can arrange the atoms in a precise manner, thereby making a diamond chip with already built thereby making a diamond chip with already built in dopants.in dopants.

The semiconductors are smaller, and much The semiconductors are smaller, and much more powerful.more powerful.

1 nanocomputer would equal the computing 1 nanocomputer would equal the computing power of one trillion of todays regular PC’s. power of one trillion of todays regular PC’s.

NanomachinesNanomachines

For most of our industrial objects, we want a For most of our industrial objects, we want a good combination of light and strong. The ratio good combination of light and strong. The ratio of strength to weight of diamond is over 50 times of strength to weight of diamond is over 50 times that of steel. that of steel. Yet, we continue to make the hull’s of our planes Yet, we continue to make the hull’s of our planes out of steel, not diamonds. out of steel, not diamonds. Once again, this arises from the fact that we can Once again, this arises from the fact that we can not readily make diamond crystal.not readily make diamond crystal.Yet, nanotechnology will allow us to make these Yet, nanotechnology will allow us to make these diamond crystals in large quantities. diamond crystals in large quantities.

NanomachinesNanomachines

Another goal for nanotechnology is the Another goal for nanotechnology is the Nanoassembler. Nanoassembler. The nanoassembler is a nonmachine that is The nanoassembler is a nonmachine that is capable of building anything else. capable of building anything else. Thus, with a computer program, we could Thus, with a computer program, we could program our nanoassembler to build anything program our nanoassembler to build anything we wanted, almost instantly.we wanted, almost instantly.If we need a car, feed the assembler a If we need a car, feed the assembler a program. program. The only limitation would be imagination.The only limitation would be imagination.

Politics of Nano?Politics of Nano?

It appears that nanotechnology would It appears that nanotechnology would dramatically change the way we interact dramatically change the way we interact with our world.with our world.

Not everyone, even after hearing the Not everyone, even after hearing the benefits, wants nanotechnology research benefits, wants nanotechnology research to continue.to continue.

There are those who foresee a very There are those who foresee a very different outcome from nanotechnology. different outcome from nanotechnology.

It’s AliveIt’s Alive

If something self replicates, is it alive?If something self replicates, is it alive?

Nanotechnology would, by a strange Nanotechnology would, by a strange sense, be a living entity. sense, be a living entity.

How would a new living entity effect How would a new living entity effect the current ecosystem? the current ecosystem?

Gray GooGray Goo

Gray Goo is the name given to vast legions of Gray Goo is the name given to vast legions of destructive nanites.destructive nanites.These nanites no longer are under the control of These nanites no longer are under the control of humans.humans.They self replicate and devour everything that They self replicate and devour everything that they come in contact with. they come in contact with. They then either replicate themselves, or use the They then either replicate themselves, or use the devoured material for energy.devoured material for energy.As of now, there is no hypothesized idea for how As of now, there is no hypothesized idea for how to stop Gray Goo.to stop Gray Goo.

Fight For Your Right…Fight For Your Right…

Currently, here in the US, there is a fight on if Currently, here in the US, there is a fight on if we should allow continuing nano research.we should allow continuing nano research.

Many detractors state the possible Many detractors state the possible catastrophic outcomes as reason to hault catastrophic outcomes as reason to hault research.research.

Many fears are also generated by the poor Many fears are also generated by the poor portrayal of nanotechnology in popular portrayal of nanotechnology in popular culture, such as Michael Crichtons Book culture, such as Michael Crichtons Book Prey. Prey.

Fight For Your Right…Fight For Your Right…

In the future, nanotechnology will continue In the future, nanotechnology will continue to have its battle grounds both in the lab to have its battle grounds both in the lab and the senate chambers.and the senate chambers.

Thus, we must, as it becomes more and Thus, we must, as it becomes more and more an issue, be aware of its possible more an issue, be aware of its possible benefits, as well as harms, to our society. benefits, as well as harms, to our society.

SourcesSources

http://www.zyvex.com/nano/http://www.zyvex.com/nano/

http://www.nanotech-now.com/basics.htmhttp://www.nanotech-now.com/basics.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/arhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59607-2004Feb21.htmlticles/A59607-2004Feb21.html